3. His personal views would be irrelevant in a publicly traded corporation

but if this is a closed, family-run business then his comments as COO or CEO are relevant to the licensing or permitting. What Menino's statement does is force the company to go on record stating that the restaurants don't discriminate and serves as a message that the company had better live up to that statement.

Chick-Fil-A is expanding into the San Francisco bay area and being met with similar opposition.